System and method for thermally and chemically treating cells at sites of interest in the body to impede cell proliferation

ABSTRACT

A system and method for treating cells of a site in the body, such as at a lens capsule of an eye. The system and method employs an energy emitting device, and a positioning device, adapted to position the energy emitting device at a position in relation to the cells at the site in the body, such as the cells of the lens capsule, such that energy emitted from the energy emitting device heats the cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in the cells, to kill the cells or impede multiplication of the cells. The energy emitting device can include a container containing a heated fluid which heats the cells to the desired temperature. Alternatively, the energy emitting device can include a heated probe, or a probe that emits radiation, such as infrared or ultraviolet radiation, laser light, microwave energy or ultrasonic energy. The system and method can further employ, a material delivery device that can be unitary with or separate from the energy emitting device, an can provide a material, such as a photosensitive material, to the cells at the site of interest. A light emitting device can be controlled to direct light onto the site of interest to activate the material present at the cells to alter a physical characteristic of the cells.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system and method for treating cellsat a site in the body, such as at a lens capsule of an eye, thermallyand, if desired, chemically. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to a system and method for treating cells at a site in the body,such as at a lens capsule of an eye, by applying energy to the cells toheat the cells to a temperature which will kill the cells or impede cellmultiplication without causing protein denaturation to occur in thecells, and, if desired, by further exposing the cells to a materialwhich alters a physical characteristic of the cells to kill the cells orfurther impede cell multiplication.

2. Description of the Related Art

Several techniques currently exist for treating cells at a selected sitein the body with heat or chemicals to kill or impede multiplication ofthose cells to prevent undesired cell proliferation. For example,numerous types of chemotherapy drugs exists which, when injected into atumor or delivered systemically to a patient, attack and kill cancerouscells to prevent them from further multiplying.

Radiation techniques can also be used to kill cancerous or otherundesired cells. That is, when cells are heated to a temperature ofabout 5° C. or more above the normal body temperature of 37° C., celldeath begins to occur. Applying radiation to a localized site in thebody, such as a tumor or other area containing undesired cells, can heatthe cells at the site to temperatures in excess of 60° C. Such hightemperatures causes a phenomenon known as protein denaturation to occurin the cells, which results in immediate cell death. Accordingly,radiation therapy has been suitable in successfully treating certaintypes of cancers and other diseases involving uncontrolled cell growth.

Other types of heating techniques, such as the use of probes orcatheters to provide localized heat to a site of interest also exist.Like radiation therapy, these techniques also heat the cells to a highenough temperature to cause protein denaturation in the cells to thuskill the cells quickly.

In addition, it is also known to use photosensitive chemicals to killcells at certain sites of interest in the body. For example, aphotosensitive chemical can be injected directly into a site of interestto expose cells at that site to the chemical. A light emitting sourcewhich emits light at a wavelength that will activate the photosensitivechemical is then focused on the site of interest. Accordingly, the lightactivates the photosensitive chemical that has been absorbed by or isotherwise present in the cells of interest. The activated chemical killsthe cells, which thus prevents undesired cell proliferation.

Although the techniques mentioned above can be suitable for preventingcertain types of cell proliferation and certain sites in the body,several drawbacks with these techniques exist. For example, often theuse of chemotherapy drugs alone to treat a tumor or cancerous site isinsufficient to kill the undesired cells. Moreover, the chemotherapydrugs also kill many normal healthy cells along with the cancerouscells, which can adversely affect the patient's health.

The use of radiation in conjunction with chemotherapy can have a moredetrimental effect on the cancerous cells. However, as withchemotherapy, radiation often kills normal healthy cells, such as thosein front of or behind the site of interest, along with the cancerouscells. Moreover, the intense heating of the cells can cause the cells tocoagulate and thus block the capillaries at the site of interest. Theblocked capillaries therefore prevent chemotherapy drugs from reachingthe site of interest.

In addition, is it not known to use the above techniques to preventunwanted cell proliferation at certain locations in the eye, such as atthe retina or at the lens capsule. For example, because the retina isvery sensitive, known radiation techniques can be too severe to treatcancerous cells on, in or under the retina.

Also, after cataract surgery, a phenomenon known as capsularopacification and, in particular, posterior capsular opacification canoccur in which the epithelial cells on the lens capsule of the eyeexperience proliferated growth. This growth can result in the cellscovering all or a substantial portion of the front and rear surfaces ofthe lens capsule, which can cause the lens capsule to become cloudy andthus adversely affect the patient's vision. These cells can be removedby known techniques, such as by scraping away the epithelial cells.However, it is often difficult to remove all of the unwanted cells.Hence, after time, the unwanted cells typically will grow back, thusrequiring further surgery.

Accordingly, a need exists for a system and method for preventingunwanted cell proliferation at sites in the body, especially at sites inthe eye such as the retina and lens capsule, which does not suffer fromthe drawbacks associated with the known techniques discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a system and method forpreventing the proliferation of unwanted cells at various sites in thebody, especially at sites in the eye such as the retina and lenscapsule.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system and method forthermally and chemically treating cells at sites in the body to kill thecells or impede cell multiplication without causing protein denaturationto occur in the cells.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a system andmethod which uses an energy emitting device to heat cells at a site ofinterest in the body to a temperature which kills the cells withoutcausing protein denaturation in the cells, and which also chemicallytreats the cells, if desired, to change a physical characteristic of thecells to thus cause cell death or impede cell multiplication.

These and other objects of the invention are substantially achieved byproviding a system and method for treating cells of a site in the body,such as at a lens capsule of an eye. The system and method employs anenergy emitting device, and a positioning device, adapted to positionthe energy emitting device at a position in relation to the cells at thesite in the body, such as the cells of the lens capsule, such thatenergy emitted from the energy emitting device heats the cells to atemperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature atwhich protein denaturation occurs in the cells, to kill the cells orimpede multiplication of the cells. The energy emitting device caninclude a container containing a heated fluid which heats the cells tothe desired temperature. Alternatively, the energy emitting device caninclude a heated probe, or a probe that emits radiation, such asinfrared or ultraviolet radiation, laser light, microwave energy orultrasonic energy.

The system and method can further employ a material delivery device thatcan be unitary with or separate from the energy emitting device, an canprovide a material, such as a photosensitive material, to the cells atthe site of interest. A light emitting device can be controlled todirect light onto the site of interest to activate the material presentat the cells to alter a physical characteristic of the cells.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, advantages and novel features of the inventionwill be more readily appreciated from the following detail descriptionwhen read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an eye into which a device fortreating cells according to an embodiment of the present invention isbeing inserted;

FIG. 2 illustrates a device according to the present invention as shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device show in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an example of a modification to the device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an example of another modification to the device shown in FIG.2;

FIG. 6 is an example of a further modification to the device shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an example of still a further modification to the device shownin FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an example of another modification to the device shown in FIG.2;

FIG. 9 is a detailed example of a rough surface that can be present onthe expandable container of the devices shown, for example, in FIGS. 2and 4-8;

FIG. 10 is an cross-sectional view of another modification to the deviceshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is an example of still a further modification to the deviceshown in FIG. 2, which includes additional tubes for irrigating andaspirating the site of interest;

FIG. 12 is an cross-sectional view of a modification to the device shownin FIG. 2 which includes a probe;

FIG. 13 is an example of a modification to the device as shown in FIG.11 , which includes a probe;

FIG. 14 is an example of a system for directing light from differentsources onto the retina of the eye to treat cells on, in or under theretina of the eye according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is an example of a system as shown in FIG. 14 which is modifiedto include a fiber optic device into which the light from the differentlight sources is directed;

FIG. 16 is an example of a system shown in FIG. 14 which is modified toinclude fiber optic cables for propagating the light from the differentlight sources;

FIG. 17 is an example of a light source as included in the system shownin FIG. 14, having a converging lens for converting the light beingemitted from the light source;

FIG. 18 is an example of a light source as included in the system shownin FIG. 14, having a diverging lens for converting the light beingemitted from the light source;

FIG. 19 is an example of a modification to the system shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is an example of a device for treating cells according toanother embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an eye 100 into which is beinginserted a device 102 for treating cells according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. As shown, the eye 100 includes a cornea 104, aniris 106, and a lens 108 having a lens capsule 110. In this example, thedevice 102 is being used to treat epithelial cells of the lens 108 thathas undergone or is undergoing a cataract procedure.

As discussed in the Background section above, it is known in the artthat after cataract surgery has been performed on a lens of an eye, theepithelial cells of the lens can proliferate on the front and rearsurfaces of the lens capsule. This cell proliferation is known ascapsular opacification, which causes the lens capsule to become cloudyand thus adversely affect vision. As will now be described, the device102 can be used to treat the epithelial cells of the lens to kill orimpede cell growth, and thus prevent or minimize capsular opacification.Specifically, the device 102 can be used to apply a hyperthermiatreatment (heating) to the cells to kill the cells or impede cellgrowth.

As mentioned in the Background section above, when cells are heated to atemperature of about 5° C. or more above the normal body temperature of37° C., cell death begins to occur. Specifically, heating cells to atemperature between about 42° C. and about 50° C. causes cell death.Heating cells to higher temperatures, such as about 60° C. and above,causes protein denaturation to occur in the cells, which results inimmediate cell death. The protein denaturation phenomenon also causescoagulation of the cells in the heated area.

It is also known that cells can tolerate certain drugs or chemicals atnormal body temperature or slightly above normal body temperature.However, as the temperature of the cells is increased to, for example,about 42° C. or above, drugs that are normally tolerated by the cells atnormal temperature can have a deleterious effect on the cells at thesehigher temperatures. The device 102 uses the effect of temperature and,if desired, chemicals to treat the cells of the lens capsule 110 toprevent or impede cell proliferation.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, device 102 includes a shaft portion 112 andan expandable portion 114. The device 102 can be made of a syntheticmaterial such as silicone, plastic or any other suitable material. Theshaft portion 112 includes a wall portion 116 and a chamber 118. Thewall portion 116 can include an insulating material, or can have athickness sufficient to insulate the chamber 118 from the environmentoutside the shaft portion 112. Also the wall portion 116 can include achamber that is filled, for example, with air which acts as aninsulator.

As further illustrated, the shaft portion 112 in this example isintegral with the expandable portion 114. However, the device 102 can beconfigured so that the shaft portion 112 is attachable to the expandableportion 114. Expandable portion 114 has a wall portion 120 that can bemade of the same material as shaft portion 112, or any other suitableexpandable material. The wall portion 120 defines a chamber 122 that isin communication with chamber 118 of shaft portion 112. The wall portion120 can be porous to allow liquid to pass therethrough, or can have oneor more openings 124 therein, if desired, to allow fluid collected inchamber 122 to pass therethrough. However, the wall portion 120 can alsobe impermeable to fluid, if desired.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the device 102 is used to treat thecells and, in particular, the epithelial cells on the anterior andposterior surfaces of the lens capsule 110 on which cataract surgery isbeing or has been performed. As can be appreciated by one skilled in theart, to perform cataract surgery, a small incision is made in the cornea104 of the eye 100, and a small incision is made in the lens capsule110. The cortex and nucleus of the lens 108 is removed through the smallopening in the lens capsule 110.

The expandable portion 114 of the device 102, along with a some of theshaft portion 112, if necessary, is inserted into the small incision inthe lens capsule 110. A heated fluid such as water or saline solution orany other suitable solution is provided into the chamber 118 of theshaft portion 112, and flows into the chamber 122 of the expandableportion 114. The liquid also can be viscous or semiviscous, if desired.

In one example, the fluid has been heated to a temperature of about 40°C. to about 100° C. and, preferably, between about 42° C. to about 60°C. A device (not shown) controls the temperature of the fluid tomaintain the temperature within the desired range. The device alsocontrols the pressure at which the fluid is provided into the chamber122 to expand the expandable portion 114 in a balloon-like manner by adesired amount. Furthermore, a timing device can be used to monitor thetime during which the expandable portion 114 should remain in contactwith the cells, which can be within a range of about 1 minute or about10 minutes, or any suitable period of time to achieve the desiredresults.

Accordingly, the temperature of the liquid in the chamber 122 of theexpandable portion 114 heats the cells surrounding and in proximity tothe expanded expandable portion 122 to a desired temperature within arange of about 45° C. to about 50° C. Although the cells heated to thistemperature will die, the cells will not experience proteindenaturation. Therefore, these cells will not coagulate and will notcloud the lens capsule 110. The time during which the expandable portion114 having the heated solution therein in maintained in contact with thecells also is closely monitored to assure that underheating oroverheating does not occur.

The expandable portion 114 can be placed inside the anterior of the lenscapsule 110, the posterior of the lens capsule 110, or at the outsideanterior and posterior surfaces of the lens capsule 110 instead ofinside the lens capsule to kill the epithelia cells. It can be alsonoted that the expandable portion 114 of the device 102 can be insertedinto the lens capsule 110, or can be placed on the outside surfaces ofthe lens capsule 110, before the cortex, the nucleus, or both, have beenremoved.

It is further noted that a drug or material can be included in theheated fluid 114 when the heated fluid is being provided into chamber116 and thus into chamber 122, or can be added to the fluid in thechamber 122 via chamber 116 at an appropriate time. The drug or materialcan be of the type that can be tolerated by cells under normaltemperature, but which can enhance cell death at the elevatedtemperature. These drugs or chemicals can be antiproliferative oranticancer drugs, antibiotics which act on cell membranes or internalstructures of the cells, agents which act as surfactants, or agentswhich contain alcohol at various concentrations. Also, the chemicals canbe photosensitizers for reasons described in more detail below. Thesechemicals and drugs can pass through the porous membrane of the wall 120of expandable portion 114, or through the openings in expandable portion114, to come in contact with and be absorbed by the cells.Alternatively, if a device 102 having a non-porous expandable portion114 or an expandable portion 114 having no openings therein is used toheat the cells, that device can be removed and replaced with anotherdevice 102 having a porous expandable portion 114 or an expandableportion 114 having openings therein, so that the drugs or chemicals canbe delivered to the cells through this second device.

After the expandable portion 114 has been kept in contact with the cellsfor the appropriate length of time, the expandable portion 114 can bedeflated and removed from the lens capsule 110. Alternatively, insteadof removing the expandable portion 114 right away, the expandableportion 114 can be allowed to remain deflated in the lens capsule 110for a desired period of time, and then reexpanded to repeat the heatingprocess and/or the drug or chemical delivery process described above.Once the treatments have been completed, the expandable portion 114 canbe deflated and removed from the lens capsule 110. An artificial lenscan then be implanted inside the lens capsule 110.

It is noted that the device 102 need not be configured as shown in FIG.2. Rather, as shown in FIG. 4, the device can be configured as a device126 having a shaft portion 128 and an expandable portion 130 at aposition along the shaft portion 128 as illustrated. The device canalternatively be configured as device 132 as shown in FIG. 5, having ashaft portion 134 and round or substantially round expandable portion136. The device can alternatively be configured as device 138 as shownin FIG. 6, having a shaft portion 140 and a disc-shaped expandableportion 142. Also, the device can be configured as device 144 as shownin FIG. 7, having a shaft portion 146 and extended expandable portion148. Furthermore, the device can be configured as device 150 as shown inFIG. 8, having a shaft portion 152 and two or more expandable portions154.

It is further noted that the devices shown in FIGS. 4 through 8 can bemade of the same or substantially the same materials as device 102 shownin FIG. 2, and can function in substantially the same manner as device102. The expandable portions of all the devices shown in FIGS. 2 and 4-8can be porous or include openings as described above, or be non-porousand include no openings. Furthermore, the expandable portions of all thedevices shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 through 8 can be configured as expandableportion 156 shown in FIG. 9, which includes ridges or abrasive portions158 on its exterior. These ridges or abrasive portions can be used toremove dead cells from the site of interest if the device is moved sothat its expandable portion rubs against the site of interest.

As shown in FIG. 10, the device can be configured as a device 160 havinga shaft portion 162 and an expandable portion 164. The expandableportion 164 in device 160 is similar to the expandable portions of allthe device shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 through 8 as discussed above. However,as illustrated, the expandable portion 164 is at a distance from thedistal end 166 of the shaft portion 162.

Furthermore, the shaft portion 162 includes an inner shaft 168 defininga chamber 170, and an outer shaft 172 which defines a chamber 174between its inner wall and the outer wall of shaft 168. The shaftportion 162 and expandable portion 164 can be made of the same orsubstantially the same materials as the shaft portion and expandableportions of the devices discussed above. However, in this example, thechamber of shaft portion 168 does not communicate with the interiorchamber of expandable portion 164. Rather, the chamber 170 defined byshaft 168 can pass through the shaft portion 162 to therefore allowfluid to pass through shaft portion 162 to the site of interest, or toallow fluid to be aspirated from the site of interest through chamber170. Alternatively, the distal end of the shaft portion 162 can beclosed. The chamber 174, on the other hand, can be used to introducefluid into the chamber 176 of the expandable portion 164. This fluid canbe heated fluid as discussed above with regard to device 102 to heat thecells at the site of interest to kill the cells or impede cellmultiplication without causing protein denaturation. The drugs orchemicals described above can also be added to the fluid for thepurposes described above.

As shown in FIG. 11, the device can be configured as device 178 having ashaft portion 180 and an expandable portion 182 which can be similar tothe shaft portion 112 and expandable portion 114 of device 102. However,device 178 can also include a first tube 182 defining a chamber 186therethrough, and a second tube 188 defining a chamber 190 therethrough.As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, tubes 184 and 188 canbe used to irrigate and aspirate the site of interest that is beingtreated by the expandable portion 182. That is, a fluid, such as wateror a saline solution, can be ejected from chamber 186 of tube 184 to thesite of interest, and then aspirated through chamber 190 of tube 188.These irrigation and aspiration operations can remove cells which werekilled by the heating process performed by expandable portion 182, whichis similar to the heating process performed by expandable portion 114 ofdevice 102 as discussed above.

As shown in FIG. 12, the device can be configured as device 192 which issimilar to device 102. Device 192 includes a shaft portion 194 and anexpandable portion 196, which are similar in construction to shaftportion 112 and expandable portion 114 of device 102. That is, shaft 194defines a chamber 198 therein, and expandable portion 196 defines achamber 200 therein. Heated fluid can be applied to chamber 200 viachamber 198 to expand expandable portion 196 in a manner similar to thatdescribed above with regard to device 102.

However, device 192 can further include a probe 202 that is insertedinto chambers 198 and 200 as shown. The probe can be a metal heatingprobe, a fiber optic probe or any other suitable probe for deliveringenergy to the fluid in chamber 200. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12,the probe 202 has a tip 204 from which energy such as thermoenergy,radiation, ultrasonic waves, microwaves, ultraviolet light waves,infrared light waves, or any other suitable energy can be emitted.Accordingly, the energy emitted from the tip 204 of probe 202 can heatthe fluid contained in chamber 200, to thus thermally treat the cells atthe site of interest in a manner similar to that described above withregard to device 102.

In addition, as mentioned above, a photosensitive material can be addedto the fluid provided to chamber 200 to chemically treat the cells atthe site of interest. The photosensitizers can be, for example,aminolevolunic acid, porphyrine derivatives, porpurine derivatives,NPE6, ATX-10, plant-derived photosensitizers, or other syntheticsentisizers such as SNET₂, Lutex, and the like. The concentration of thephotosensitizers in the fluid should be at non-toxic levels.

Similar to expandable portion 114 discussed above, expandable portion196 can be porous or can include openings therein to allow the fluidcontained in chamber 200 to pass there through and contact or beabsorbed by the cells at the site of interest. Accordingly, thephotosensitizers contained in the fluid in chamber 200 can pass throughthe porous walls of expandable portion 196, or through openings inexpandable portion 196, to come in contact with the cells at the site ofinterest, and be absorbed by the cells.

Assuming that the probe 202 is a fiber optic, light having a wavelengththat will activate the photosensitizers contained in the fluid can bepropagated through probe 202 and be admitted at the tip 204 of theprobe. This light can be laser light, light generated by a LED, whitelight, or any other light of a wavelength that will activate thephotosensitizers in the fluid. The activated photosensitizers that arein contact with or have been absorbed by the cells at the site ofinterest can alternate physically characteristic of those cells or, inother words, cause damage to those cells. Accordingly, in the exampledescribed above with regard to FIG. 1, the epithelial cells of the lenscapsule 110 (see FIG. 1) can be damaged by the activatedphotosensitizers. This damage caused by the activated photosensitizerscan kill the cells which have not been killed by the heating process, orcan further damage the cells that have been damaged by the heatingprocess to impede cell growth.

It is also noted that all the different configurations of the device asshown in FIGS. 4-11 can similarly include a probe 202 for purposesdescribed above. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the device 160 caninclude probe 202 in chamber 174 so that the tip 204 of the probe 202extends into the chamber 1176 of the expandable portion 164. The probe202 can be used as described above to heat the fluid, energizephotosensitive materials contained of the fluid, or both.

It is also noted that the devices shown in FIGS. 2 and 4-13 as describedabove can be used to treat cells at locations in the body other than thelens capsule. For example, the devices can be used to treat cells inblood vessels, skin and mucus tissues, the intestine, vagina, uterus,bladder, urethra, prostrate, rectum, sinuses, brain, breast, heart, orany site in the body. The manner in which the devices are used to treatcells at these various locations in the body is similar to thatdescribed above with regard to the treatment of cells at the lenscapsule.

That is, the device, such as device 102, is positioned so that theexpandable portion 114 is in contact with or proximate to the cells tobe treated. The heated fluid is then provided into the chamber 122 ofexpandable portion 114 in a manner described above to thermally treatthe cells, and thus kill the cells without causing protein denaturation.The expandable portion 114 can be porous or can include openings asdescribed above from which the fluid inside the chamber 122 can pass. Asfurther described above, the fluid can include a photosensitizer whichcan come in contact with or be absorbed by the cells when the fluidpasses through the pores or openings in the expandable portion 114. Aprobe 202 as shown, for example in FIG. 12, can be used to emits lightof an appropriate wavelength to the cells of interest so that thephotosensitizers in contact with or absorbed by the cells of interestare activated by the light, and thus change a physical characteristic ofthe cells or damage the cells as described above.

It is further noted that multiple devices can be used to perform theheating and photosensitizing process period. That is, a device such asdevice 102 can include an expandable portion 114 that is not porous orhas no openings therein, and can be used in a manner similar to thatdescribed above to heat the cells at the site of interest to kill thecells without causing protein denaturation. That device can then beremoved, and a second device having an expandable portion 114 that ispermeable or has openings therein can be used to deliver thephotosensitizer to the cells at the site of interest. This second device102 can further include a probe 202 as described above which can becontrolled to emit light which will activate the photosensitizers andthus cause the photosensitizer which have been absorbed by the cells orin contact with the cells to change the physical characteristic of thecells. The probe 202 could also be used to heat the fluid in theexpandable portion 114 in the manner described above.

It is further noted that the devices as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4-13 asdescribed above can be used to deliver other chemicals, such asantiproliferative drugs or anticancer chemicals, to the cells of thesite of interest through openings or pores in their expandable portions.Furthermore, it is noted that the heating of the site of interest alsoexpands the capillaries and vasculature at the site of interest, thusallowing more blood to flow to the site of interest. Accordingly, thephotosensitizers or other drugs such as antiproliferative or anticancerchemical can be delivered systemically or, in other words, intravenouslyto the body. Because the drugs or chemicals are flowing through thebody's blood stream, the drugs or chemicals will reach the site ofinterest through the expanded capillaries and vasculature. If the drugsor chemicals are photosensitizers, the device 102 or any of the otherdevices shown in FIGS. 4-13 can still be used to activate thephotosensitizers at the site of interest.

That is, any of those devices can include a fiber optic probe 202 whichcan be used to emit light having a wavelength that activates thephotosensitizers at the site of interest. The activated photosensitizerswill then alter a physical characteristic of the cells at the site ofinterest as described above. It is noted that photosensitizers such asbenzoporphynines can be activated with light having a wavelength betweenabout 680 nm to about 695 nm, while NPE6 is activated by light having awavelength between about 660 nm and about 670 nm. Lutex, on the otherhand, is activated with light having a wavelength of about 725 nm, andSNET₂ is activated with light having a wavelength of about 660 nm toabout 670 nm. It is further noted that the photosensitizers as well asthe antiproliferative or anticancer chemicals can be deliveredsystemically to the site of interest or applied directly to the site ofinterest via any of the devices shown in FIGS. 2 and 4-13 as describedabove before, during, or immediately after the cells have been thermallytreated to enhance the killing effect on the cells.

Although FIGS. 1-13 and the above disclosure describe a device having anexpandable portion for treating cells at the site of interest, othertypes of devices can be used to provide the same or similar treatment.For example, as shown in FIG. 14, a system 206 can include a pluralityof light emitting devices 208 and 210 which can be, for example, lasers,LED's or any other type of light-emitting devices known in the art.Light-emitting device 208 emits light to a mirror arrangement 212, forexample, which includes mirrors 214, 216 and 218. Accordingly, lightbeing emitted by light-emitting device 208 is reflected by mirrors 214and 218, and can be directed toward an eye 220 such that the lightwavespass through the cornea 222 and are focused by the lens 224 onto adesired site on the retina 226. Similarly, the light being emitted bylight emitting device 210 is reflected by mirror 216 and mirror 218 toenter the eye 220 and be focused by lens 224 on the desired site onretina 226.

In the system shown in FIG. 14, one of the light-emitting devices, forexample, light-emitting device 208, can emit light such as laser light,infrared light, ultraviolet light, or any other suitable type of light,having a wavelength and intensity which will feed the cells on, in orunder the portion of the retina 226 onto which the light propagates. Thelight-emitting device 208 can be controlled so that the intensity of thelight will only heat the cells to a temperature below, for example, 60°C., to cause cell death without causing protein denaturation and thus,coagulation of the cells. Preferably, the cells are heated to atemperature within the range of about 42° C. to about 50° C. The cellsalso are exposed to the light for an appropriate amount of time, such as1 to 10 minutes, as necessary, to effectively kill the cells withoutoverheating the cells to cause protein denaturation to occur. It isfurthers noted that the light-emitting device 208 could alternatively bea microwave emitting device, ultrasonic emitting device, radiationemitting device, or any other suitable energy emitting device asdescribed above which will sufficiently heat the cells to thermallytreat the cells as described above.

Before, during or after the light-emitting device 208 is controlled toheat the cells in the manner described above, a photosensitizer of thetype as described above can be delivered to the site of interest at theretina 226 either locally through the use of a device such as that shownin FIGS. 2 and 4-13, or systemically through the patient's blood streamas described above. Once the cells have been thermally treated by thelight being emitted from light-emitting device 208, light-emittingdevice 210 can be controlled to emit light having a wavelength whichwill activate the photosensitizer that have been absorbed by or are incontact with the cells at the site of interest on the retina 226. In oneexample, the light emitted by light-emitting device 208 to heat thecells can have a wavelength between about 700 nm to about 1200 nm.However, the light emitted by the light-emitting 210 should have awavelength which activate the photosensitizer used. For example, if NPE6is used, the wavelength of the light should be about 664 nm.

It should be also understood that the light being emitted bylight-emitting device 210 can be emitted before, during or after theheat-treating process. It is further noted that the heat-treatingprocess could be performed using a device as shown, for example, inFIGS. 2 and 4-13, while the photosensitizers can be activated using alight-emitting device, such as light-emitting device 210 as describedabove. It is further noted that the system 206 described above fordelivering different types of light to a site of interest in a body canbe modified in several ways. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, thesystem 206 can be configured to include a fiber optic device 228, whichcan be a flexible fiber optic cable or probe, or any other suitable typeof fiber optic device that can receive the light being emitted bylight-emitting devices 208 and 210. The distal end 230 of the fiberoptic device 228 can then be aimed to the site of interest in a body,for example, at a site of interest on the retina 226 (see FIG. 14), orat any other site of interest in the body. The fiber optic probe 228 canalso be inserted into the body so that the tip 230 can be placedproximate to the site of interest.

As further shown in FIG. 16, the light-emitting devices 208 and 210 caninstead be attached to a fiber optic probe 232 having a first fiberoptic cable 234 and a second fiber optic cable 236. The tip 238 of thefiber optic probe can be aimed toward or placed proximate to a site ofinterest 240 in a body, such as at a site of interest on the retina 226(see FIG. 14) or at any other site in a body, so that the light emittedby light-emitting devices 208 and 210 can radiate onto the site ofinterest to treat the cells in a manner described. As shown in FIG. 17,a converging lens 240 can be used in conjunction with eitherlight-emitting sources 208 or 210 to converge the light being emitted byeither of those light sources to a point, so that the light can befocused more precisely on a site of interest, or be received moreefficiently into a fiber optic probe, such as fiber optic probe 228 inFIG. 15. Also, as shown in FIG. 18, a diverging lens 242 can be usedwith either of the light-emitting devices 208 or 210 to diverge thelight rays being emitted by those light-emitting devices so that thelight waves can cover a larger area of the site of interest.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 19, light-emitting devices 208 and 210 canbe coupled to a fiber optic device 244 having fiber optic cables 246,248 250 and 252. In this example, light-emitting device 208 is coupledto fiber optic cable 246, and light-emitting 210 is coupled to fiberoptic cable 248. Accordingly, the light being emitted by light-emittingdevices 208 and 210 is emitted from the tip 254 of the fiber optic probe244 to propagate onto the site of interest to treat the cells at thesite of interest in the manner described above.

Furthermore, fiber optic cable 250 can be coupled to an illuminationsource 256 which can provide light which passes out of the tip 254 offiber optic probe 244 to illuminate the site of interest. Furthermore,fiber optic cable 252 can be coupled to a monitor 258, such a televisionmonitor, fluoroscope, CT-scan, or any other similar device, which can beused to monitor the site of interest that is being illuminated by thelight emitted from illumination device 256 and is being treated by thelight emitted by light-emitting devices 208 and 210.

It is further noted that the devices described above with regard toFIGS. 2 and 4-13 can be modified in other ways to better suit theapplication in which they are being used. For example, as shown in FIGS.20 and 21, a device 260 having a shaft portion 262 and expandableportion 264 similar to shaft portion 112 and expandable portion 114described above can be used to treat cells at a site of interest within,for example, a patient's vasculature 266. In order to allow blood toflow more freely through the device 260, the shaft 262 can be configuredwith openings 268 therein, which will allow blood to freely flow throughthe chamber 270 defined by shaft portion 262.

As shown in FIG. 21 specifically, a tube 272 can be in communicationwith the chamber 274 of expandable portion 264 to provide a heated fluidto the chamber 274 to thus expand the chamber 264 and heat the cells atthe site of interest in a manner similar to that described above withregard to, for example, device 102. It is note that the chamber 270 doesnot communicate with chamber 274 in this example. Furthermore, thedevice 260 can also include a probe 202 similar to that described abovewhich can emit energy, such as light energy, microwave energy,ultrasonic energy, or any other suitable energy at its tip 204 toactivate photosensitizers that have been delivered to the cells at thesite of interest by the fluid leaking through the pores or openings inexpandable portion 264, or systemically through the patient's bloodstream. The energy can also be used to heat the fluid in the chamber274.

It is also noted that the cells can be irradiated with radiation before,during or after being treated thermally in the manners described above.The radiation can be delivered by the same device, such as device 102,that is used to heat the cells to perform the hyperthermia treatment asdescribed above. Specifically, the shaft portion of the device can becovered with or otherwise include a protective shield that preventsradiation from escaping the device. The expandable portion allowsradiation to be emitted therefrom, although a portion of the expandableportion of the device can also include a protective shield.

The radiation used to treat the cells can be either beta radiation witha very short span, such as radiation emitted by strontium or iridium.However, gamma radiation such as that emitted by P³², Iodine 95,Palladium 90, or so on, can also be used. The other isotopes used in thesolution can be tritiated (radioactive hydrogen) or a radioactivecarbon, and so on. The components described above which emit theradiation can be made into small particles which are included in thefluid that is delivered into the expandable portion of the device asdescribed above. Accordingly, the fluid will heat the cells of interestto kill the cells or impede cell growth, and the radiation will furtherenhance the cell killing effect. The hyperthermia technique of heatingthe cells can also be performed prior to irradiating the cells withradiation. In this event, separate devices can be used to heat the cellsand irradiate the cells. It is also noted that the photosensitizertechniques described above can also be performed. Furthermore,antiproliferative drugs or anticancer drugs can also be applied to thecells at the site of interest.

It is also noted that this technique of using the device to treat cellswith radiation as described above can be used to treat cells at anysuitable site in the body. More particularly, it can be noted that whentreating cells of the lens capsule, such as epithelial cells asdescribed above, it is not necessary to heat the cells if the radiationtechnique is used. Rather, radiation alone can be applied to the cellsof the lens capsule by the device, such as those described above, tokill the cells or impede cell growth. However, it can be also beadvantageous to treat the cells of the lens capsule with heat andradiation, a well as with photosensitizers, antiproliferative andanticancer drugs.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have beendescribed in detail above, those skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplaryembodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings andadvantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined inthe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for treating cells of lens capsuleof an eye, comprising: an energy emitting device having a containeradapted to receive and contain therein fluid that emits said energy asthermal energy, said container further having a permeable membrane,which is adapted to release at least some of said fluid contained insaid container; and a positioning device, adapted to position saidenergy emitting device at a position in relation to said cells of saidlens capsule, such that said energy emitted from said energy emittingdevice heats said cells to a temperature which is above body temperatureand below a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in saidcells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells.
 2. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said container is adapted toexpand when receiving said fluid therein.
 3. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, wherein: said container comprises a wall having at least oneopening therein, which is adapted to release therethrough at least someof said fluid contained in said container.
 4. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, wherein: said fluid contains a cell treating material, and saidcontainer is adapted to release said cell treating material therefrom toenable said cell treating material to alter a physical characteristic ofsaid cells.
 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said fluidincludes a photosensitive material, and said container is adapted torelease said photosensitive material therefrom to enable saidphotosensitive material to come in contact with said cells; and saidapparatus further comprises a light emitting device, adapted to emitlight energy which activates said photosensitive material in contactwith said cells to cause said activated photosensitive material to killor impede multiplication of said cells.
 6. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, wherein: said energy emitting device includes a microwaveemitting device, adapted to emit said energy as microwave energy.
 7. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said energy emitting deviceincludes a laser emitting device, adapted to emit said energy as laserradiation.
 8. A system for treating cells at a site in an eye,comprising: an energy emitting device including a fluid container whichis adapted to receive and contain a fluid therein which emits saidenergy as thermal energy, said energy emitting device being adapted toemit said energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above bodytemperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occursin said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of saidcells; and a material delivery device, adapted to deliver a material tosaid cells which is adapted to alter a physical characteristic of saidcells; wherein said fluid container is adapted to expand when receivingsaid fluid therein.
 9. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein: thematerial delivery device is adapted to deliver said material to saidcells that have been heated by said heating device.
 10. A system asclaimed in claim 10, wherein: said fluid container comprises a wallhaving at least one opening therein, which is adapted to releasetherethrough at least some of said fluid contained in said fluidcontainer.
 11. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein: said energyemitting device includes a microwave emitting device, adapted to emitsaid energy as microwave energy.
 12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8,wherein: said energy emitting device includes a laser emitting device,adapted to emit said energy as laser radiation.
 13. A system fortreating cells at a site in an eye, comprising: an energy emittingdevice including a fluid container which is adapted to receive andcontain a fluid therein which emits said energy as thermal energy, saidenergy emitting device being adapted to emit said energy to heat saidcells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below atemperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to killsaid cells or impede multiplication of said cells; and a materialdelivery device, adapted to deliver a material to said cells which isadapted to alter a physical characteristic of said cells; wherein saidfluid container comprises a permeable membrane, which is adapted torelease at least some of said fluid contained in said fluid container.14. A system for treating cells at a site in an eye, comprising: anenergy emitting device including a fluid container which is adapted toreceive and contain a fluid therein which emits said energy as thermalenergy, said energy emitting device being adapted to emit said energy toheat said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature andbelow a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells,to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells; and amaterial delivery device, adapted to deliver a material to said cellswhich is adapted to alter a physical characteristic of said cells, andsaid energy emitting device and said material delivery device areconfigured as a unitary device, which is adapted to emit said energy toheat said cells and to deliver said material to said cells; wherein saidunitary device comprises a fluid container, adapted to receive andcontain a fluid therein which emits said energy as thermal energy; andsaid fluid includes said material, and said fluid container is furtheradapted to release therefrom at least some of said fluid containing saidmaterial, to enable said material to contact said cells.
 15. A systemfor treating cells at a site in an eye, comprising: an energy emittingdevice including a fluid container which is adapted to receive andcontain a fluid therein which emits said energy as thermal energy, saidenergy emitting device being adapted to emit said energy to heat saidcells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below atemperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to killsaid cells or impede multiplication of said cells; a material deliverydevice, adapted to deliver a material to said cells which is adapted toalter a physical characteristic of said cells; wherein said energyemitting device and said material delivery device are configured as aunitary device, which is adapted to emit said energy to heat said cellsand to deliver said material to said cells; wherein said materialincludes a photosensitive material; and said system further comprises alight emitting device, adapted to emit light energy which activates saidphotosensitive material in contact with said cells to cause saidactivated photosensitive material to kill or impede multiplication ofsaid cells.
 16. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein: said materialdelivery device is adapted to deliver said photosensitive material intosaid body systemically, such that said photosensitive material reachessaid cells at said site through via the vasculature of said body; andsaid light emitting device emits said light energy toward said site toactivate said photosensitive material present in said cells at saidsite.
 17. A method for treating cells of a lens capsule of an eye,comprising the steps of: positioning an energy emitting device having acontainer with a permeable membrane, at a position in relation to saidcells of said lens capsule; providing a fluid into said container, suchthat at least some of said fluid contained in said container exits saidcontainer through said permeable membrane, said fluid emitting saidenergy as thermal energy; and causing said energy emitting device toemit said energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above bodytemperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occursin said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of saidcells.
 18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein: said container isexpandable; and said fluid providing step provides said fluid to saidcontainer at a pressure sufficient to expand said container.
 19. Amethod as claimed in claim 17, wherein: said container comprises a wallhaving at least one opening therein; and said providing step providessaid fluid into said container such that at least some of said fluidcontained in said container exits said container through said at leastone opening.
 20. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein: said fluidincludes a cell treating material; and said providing step includes thestep releasing from said container at least a portion of said fluidcontaining said cell treating material to enable said cell treatingmaterial to alter said physical characteristic of said cells.
 21. Amethod as claimed in claim 17, wherein: said fluid includes aphotosensitive material; said providing step includes the step ofreleasing from said container at least a portion of fluid containingsaid photosensitive material to enable said photosensitive material tocome in contact with said cells; and said method further comprises thestep of emit light energy which activates said photosensitive materialin contact with said cells to cause said activated photosensitivematerial to kill or impede multiplication of said cells.
 22. A method asclaimed in claim 17, wherein: said energy emitting device includes amicrowave emitting device; and said causing step causes said microwaveemitting device to emit said energy as microwave energy.
 23. A method asclaimed in claim 17, wherein: said energy emitting device includes alaser emitting device; and said causing step causes said laser emittingdevice to emit said energy as laser radiation.
 24. A method for treatingcells at a site in an eye, comprising the steps of: emitting energy toheat said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature andbelow a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells,to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells; anddelivering a material to said cells which is adapted to alter a physicalcharacteristic of said cells.
 25. A method as claimed in claim 24,wherein: said delivering step delivers said material to said cells thathave been heated during said energy emitting step.
 26. A method asclaimed in claim 24, wherein: said energy emitting step comprises thestep of providing proximate to said cells a container containing aheated fluid therein to enable said container to emit said energy asthermal energy.
 27. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein: saidcontainer is expandable; and said method further comprises the step ofproviding said fluid to said container at a pressure sufficient toexpand said container when said container is proximate to said cells.28. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein: said fluid containercomprises a permeable membrane; said method further comprises the stepof providing said fluid to said container such that at least some ofsaid fluid contained in said container exits said container through saidpermeable membrane.
 29. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein: saidfluid container comprises at least one opening therein; said methodfurther comprises the step of providing said fluid to said containersuch that at least some of said fluid contained in said container exitssaid container through said at least one opening.
 30. A method asclaimed in claim 26, wherein said method further comprises the step ofemploying a unitary device which performs said energy emitting andmaterial delivery steps.
 31. A method as claimed in claim 30, wherein:said fluid includes said material; and said material delivery stepreleases from said unitary device at least some of said fluid containingsaid material, to enable said material to contact said cells.
 32. Amethod as claimed in claim 24, wherein: said material includes aphotosensitive material; and said method further comprises the step ofemitting light energy which activates said photosensitive material incontact with said cells to cause said activated photosensitive materialto kill or impede multiplication of said cells.
 33. A method as claimedin claim 24, wherein: said energy emitting step emits said energy asmicrowave energy.
 34. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein: saidenergy emitting step emits said energy as laser radiation.
 35. A methodfor treating cells at a site in a body, comprising the steps of:emitting energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above bodytemperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occursin said cells by providing proximate to said cells a containercontaining a heated fluid therein to enable said container to emit saidenergy as thermal energy, to kill said cells or impede multiplication ofsaid cells; and delivering a material to said cells which is adapted toalter a physical characteristic of said cells.
 36. A method as claimedin claim 35, wherein: said container is expandable; and said methodfurther comprises the step of providing said fluid to said container ata pressure sufficient to expand said container when said container isproximate to said cells.
 37. A method as claimed in claim 35, wherein:said fluid container comprises a permeable membrane; said method furthercomprises the step of providing said fluid to said container such thatat least some of said fluid contained in said container exits saidcontainer through said permeable membrane.
 38. A method as claimed inclaim 35, wherein: said fluid container comprises at least one openingtherein; said method further comprises the step of providing said fluidto said container such that at least some of said fluid contained insaid container exits said container through said at least one opening.39. A method as claimed in claim 42, wherein said method furthercomprises the step of employing a unitary device which performs saidenergy emitting and material delivery steps.
 40. A method as claimed inclaim 39, wherein: said fluid includes said material; and said materialdelivery step releases from said unitary device at least some of saidfluid containing said material, to enable said material to contact saidcells.
 41. A method for treating cells at a site in a body, comprisingthe steps of: emitting energy to heat said cells to a temperature whichis above body temperature and below a temperature at which proteindenaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impedemultiplication of said cells; delivering a material, including aphotosensitive material, to said cells which is adapted to alter aphysical characteristic of said cells; and emitting light energy whichactivates said photosensitive material in contact with said cells tocause said activated photosensitive material to kill or impedemultiplication of said cells.
 42. An apparatus for treating cells of alens capsule of an eye, comprising: an energy emitting device having acontainer adapted to receive and contain therein fluid that emits saidenergy as thermal energy, said container comprising a wall having atleast one opening therein, which is adapted to release therethrough atleast some of said fluid contained in said container; and a positioningdevice, adapted to position said energy emitting device at a position inrelation to said cells of said lens capsule, such that energy emittedfrom said energy emitting device heats said cells to a temperature whichis above body temperature and below a temperature at which proteindenaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impedemultiplication of said cells; wherein said container is adapted toexpand when receiving said fluid therein.
 43. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 42, wherein: said fluid contains a cell treating material, andsaid container is adapted to release said cell treating materialtherefrom to enable said cell treating material to alter a physicalcharacteristic of said cells.
 44. An apparatus for treating cells of alens capsule of an eye, comprising: an energy emitting device having acontainer adapted to receive and contain therein fluid that emits saidenergy as thermal energy, said container comprising a wall having atleast one opening therein, which is adapted to release therethrough atleast some of said fluid contained in said container; and a positioningdevice, adapted to position said energy emitting device at a position inrelation to said cells of said lens capsule, such that energy emittedfrom said energy emitting device heats said cells to a temperature whichis above body temperature and below a temperature at which proteindenaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impedemultiplication of said cells; wherein said container comprises apermeable membrane, which is adapted to release at least some of saidfluid contained in said container.
 45. An apparatus for treating cellsof a lens capsule of an eye, comprising: an energy emitting devicehaving a container adapted to receive and contain therein fluid thatemits said energy as thermal energy, said container comprising a wallhaving at least one opening therein, which is adapted to releasetherethrough at least some of said fluid contained in said container;and a positioning device, adapted to position said energy emittingdevice at a position in relation to said cells of said lens capsule,such that energy emitted from said energy emitting device heats saidcells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below atemperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to killsaid cells or impede multiplication of said cells; An apparatus fortreating cells of a lens capsule of an eye, comprising: wherein saidfluid includes a photosensitive material, and said container is adaptedto release said photosensitive material therefrom to enable saidphotosensitive material to come in contact with said cells; and saidapparatus further comprises a light emitting device, adapted to emitlight energy which activates said photosensitive material in contactwith said cells to cause said activated photosensitive material to killor impede multiplication of said cells.
 46. An apparatus for treatingcells of a lens capsule of an eye, comprising: an energy emitting devicehaving a container adapted to receive and contain therein fluid thatemits said energy as thermal energy, said fluid containing a celltreating material, and said container is adapted to release said celltreating material therefrom to enable said cell treating material toalter a physical characteristic of said cells; and a positioning device,adapted to position said energy emitting device at a position inrelation to said cells of said lens capsule, such that energy emittedfrom said energy emitting device heats said cells to a temperature whichis above body temperature and below a temperature at which proteindenaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impedemultiplication of said cells.
 47. An apparatus as claimed in claim 46,wherein: said container is adapted to expand when receiving said fluidtherein.
 48. An apparatus as claimed in claim 46, wherein: saidcontainer comprises a permeable membrane, which is adapted to release atleast some of said fluid contained in said container.
 49. An apparatusas claimed in claim 46, wherein: said container comprises a wall havingat least one opening therein, which is adapted to release therethroughat least some of said fluid contained in said container.
 50. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 46, wherein: said fluid includes aphotosensitive material, and said container is adapted to release saidphotosensitive material therefrom to enable said photosensitive materialto come in contact with said cells; and said apparatus further comprisesa light emitting device, adapted to emit light energy which activatessaid photosensitive material in contact with said cells to cause saidactivated photosensitive material to kill or impede multiplication ofsaid cells.
 51. An apparatus for treating cells of a lens capsule of aneye, comprising: an energy emitting device having a container adapted toreceive and contain therein fluid that emits said energy as thermalenergy, said fluid includes a photosensitive material, and saidcontainer is adapted to release said photosensitive material therefromto enable said photosensitive material to come in contact with saidcells; a positioning device, adapted to position said energy emittingdevice at a position in relation to said cells of said lens capsule,such that energy emitted from said energy emitting device heats saidcells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below atemperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to killsaid cells or impede multiplication of said cells; and a light emittingdevice, adapted to emit light energy which activates said photosensitivematerial in contact with said cells to cause said activatedphotosensitive material to kill or impede multiplication of said cells.52. An apparatus as claimed in claim 51, wherein: said container isadapted to expand when receiving said fluid therein.
 53. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 51, wherein: said container comprises a permeablemembrane, which is adapted to release at least some of said fluidcontained in said container.
 54. An apparatus as claimed in claim 51,wherein: said container comprises a wall having at least one openingtherein, which is adapted to release therethrough at least some of saidfluid contained in said container.
 55. An apparatus as claimed in claim51, wherein: said fluid contains a cell treating material, and saidcontainer is adapted to release said cell treating material therefrom toenable said cell treating material to alter a physical characteristic ofsaid cells.
 56. A system for treating cells at a site in a body,comprising: an energy emitting device, adapted to emit energy to heatsaid cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below atemperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to killsaid cells or impede multiplication of said cells; and a materialdelivery device, adapted to deliver a material to said cells which isadapted to alter a physical characteristic of said cells; wherein saidenergy emitting device and said material delivery device are configuredas a unitary device, which is adapted to emit said energy to heat saidcells and to deliver said material to said cells; wherein said energyemitting device comprises a fluid container which is adapted to receiveand contain a fluid therein which emits said energy as thermal energy,and said fluid container is adapted to expand when receiving said fluidtherein.
 57. A system as claimed in claim 56, wherein: the materialdelivery device is adapted to deliver said material to said cells thathave been heated by said energy emitting device.
 58. A system fortreating cells at a site in a body, comprising: an energy emittingdevice, adapted to emit energy to heat said cells to a temperature whichis above body temperature and below a temperature at which proteindenaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impedemultiplication of said cells; and a material delivery device, adapted todeliver a material to said cells which is adapted to alter a physicalcharacteristic of said cells; wherein said energy emitting device andsaid material delivery device are configured as a unitary device, whichis adapted to emit said energy to heat said cells and to deliver saidmaterial to said cells; said energy emitting device comprises a fluidcontainer which is adapted to receive and contain a fluid therein whichemits said energy as thermal energy, and said fluid container comprisesa permeable membrane, which is adapted to release at least some of saidfluid contained in said fluid container.
 59. A system for treating cellsat a site in a body, comprising: an energy emitting device, adapted toemit energy to heat said cells to a temperature which is above bodytemperature and below a temperature at which protein denaturation occursin said cells, to kill said cells or impede multiplication of saidcells; and a material delivery device, adapted to deliver a material tosaid cells which is adapted to alter a physical characteristic of saidcells; wherein said energy emitting device and said material deliverydevice are configured as a unitary device, which is adapted to emit saidenergy to heat said cells and to deliver said material to said cells;said energy emitting device comprises a fluid container which is adaptedto receive and contain a fluid therein which emits said energy asthermal energy, and said fluid container comprises a wall having atleast one opening therein, which is adapted to release therethrough atleast some of said fluid contained in said fluid container.
 60. A systemfor treating cells at a site in a body, comprising: an energy emittingdevice, adapted to emit energy to heat said cells to a temperature whichis above body temperature and below a temperature at which proteindenaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells or impedemultiplication of said cells; and a material delivery device, adapted todeliver a material to said cells which is adapted to alter a physicalcharacteristic of said cells; wherein said energy emitting device andsaid material delivery device are configured as a unitary device, whichis adapted to emit said energy to heat said cells and to deliver saidmaterial to said cells; said unitary device comprises a fluid container,adapted to receive and contain a fluid therein which emits said energyas thermal energy; and said fluid includes said material, and said fluidcontainer is further adapted to release therefrom at least some of saidfluid containing said material, to enable said material to contact saidcells.
 61. A system for treating cells at a site in a body, comprising:an energy emitting device, adapted to emit energy to heat said cells toa temperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature atwhich protein denaturation occurs in said cells to kill said cells orimpede multiplication of said cells; and a material delivery device,adapted to deliver a material to said cells which is adapted to alter aphysical characteristic of said cells; wherein said energy emittingdevice and said material delivery device are configured as a unitarydevice, which is adapted to emit said energy to heat said cells and todeliver said material to said cells; wherein said material includes aphotosensitive material; and said system further comprises a lightemitting device, adapted to emit light energy which activates saidphotosensitive material in contact with said cells to cause saidactivated photosensitive material to kill or impede multiplication ofsaid cells.
 62. A system as claimed in claims 61, wherein: said materialdelivery device is adapted to deliver said photosensitive material intosaid body systemically, such that said photosensitive material reachessaid cells at said site through via the vasculature of said body; andsaid light emitting device emits said light energy toward said site toactivate said photosensitive material present in said cells at saidsite.
 63. A system for treating cells at a site in a body, comprising:an energy emitting device adapted to emit energy to heat said cells to atemperature which is above body temperature and below a temperature atwhich protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to kill said cells orimpede multiplication of said cells; and a material delivery device,adapted to deliver a material to said cells which is adapted to alter aphysical characteristic of said cells; wherein said energy emittingdevice and said material delivery device are configured as a unitarydevice, which is adapted to emit said energy to heat said cells and todeliver said material to said cells; wherein said energy emitting deviceincludes a microwave emitting device, adapted to emit said energy asmicrowave energy.
 64. A system for treating cells at a site in a body,comprising: an energy emitting device, adapted to emit energy to heatsaid cells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below atemperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to killsaid cells or impede multiplication of said cells; and a materialdelivery device, adapted to deliver a material to said cells which isadapted to alter a physical characteristic of said cells; wherein saidenergy emitting device and said material delivery device are configuredas a unitary device, which is adapted to emit said energy to heat saidcells and to deliver said material to said cells; and said energyemitting device includes a laser emitting device, adapted to emit saidenergy as laser radiation.
 65. A method for treating cells of a lenscapsule of an eye, comprising the steps of: positioning an energyemitting device including a container with a wall having at least oneopening therein, at a position in relation to said cells of said lenscapsule; and causing said energy emitting device to emit said energy toheat said cells to a temperature which is above body temperature andbelow a temperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells,to kill said cells or impede multiplication of said cells; providinginto said container a fluid that emits said energy as thermal energy andat least some of said fluid contained in said container exits saidcontainer through said at least one opening.
 66. A method as claimed inclaim 65, wherein: said container is expandable; and said fluidproviding step provides said fluid to said container at a pressuresufficient to expand said container.
 67. A method as claimed in claim65, wherein: said container comprises a permeable membrane; and saidproviding step provides said fluid into said container such that atleast some of said fluid contained in said container exits saidcontainer through said permeable membrane.
 68. A method as claimed inclaim 65, wherein: said fluid includes a cell treating material; andsaid providing step includes the step releasing from said container atleast a portion of said fluid containing said cell treating material toenable said cell treating material to alter said physical characteristicof said cells.
 69. A method as claimed in claim 65, wherein: said fluidincludes a photosensitive material; said providing step includes thestep of releasing from said container at least a portion of fluidcontaining said photosensitive material to enable said photosensitivematerial to come in contact with said cells; and said method furthercomprises the step of emit light energy which activates saidphotosensitive material in contact with said cells to cause saidactivated photosensitive material to kill or impede multiplication ofsaid cells.
 70. A method for treating cells of a lens capsule of an eye,comprising the steps of: positioning an energy emitting device having acontainer at a position in relation to said cells of said lens capsule;and causing said energy emitting device to emit said energy to heat saidcells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below atemperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to killsaid cells or impede multiplication of said cells; providing into saidcontainer a fluid that emits said energy as thermal energy, said fluidincluding a cell treating material; and releasing from said container atleast a portion of said fluid containing said cell treating material toenable said cell treating material to alter said physical characteristicof said cells.
 71. A method as claimed in claim 70, wherein: saidcontainer is expandable; and fluid providing step provides said fluid tosaid container at a pressure sufficient to expand said container.
 72. Amethod as claimed in claim 70, wherein: said container comprises apermeable membrane; and said providing step provides said fluid intosaid container such that at least some of said fluid contained in saidcontainer exits said container through said permeable membrane.
 73. Amethod as claimed in claim 70, wherein: said container comprises a wallhaving at least one opening therein; and said providing step providessaid fluid into said container such that at least some of said fluidcontained in said container exits said container through said at leastone opening.
 74. A method as claimed in claim 70, wherein: said fluidincludes a photosensitive material; said providing step includes thestep of releasing from said container at least a portion of fluidcontaining said photosensitive material to enable said photosensitivematerial to come in contact with said cells; and said method furthercomprises the step of emit light energy which activates saidphotosensitive material in contact with said cells to cause saidactivated photosensitive material to kill or impede multiplication ofsaid cells.
 75. A method for treating cells of a lens capsule of an eye,comprising the steps of: positioning an energy emitting device having acontainer at a position in relation to said cells of said lens capsule;and causing said energy emitting device to emit said energy to heat saidcells to a temperature which is above body temperature and below atemperature at which protein denaturation occurs in said cells, to killsaid cells or impede multiplication of said cells; providing into saidcontainer a fluid that emits said energy as thermal energy, said fluidincluding a photosensitive material; releasing from said container atleast a portion of fluid containing said photosensitive material toenable said photosensitive material to come in contact with said cells;and emitting light energy which activates said photosensitive materialin contact with said cells to cause said activated photosensitivematerial to kill or impede multiplication of said cells.
 76. A method asclaimed in claim 75, wherein: said container is expandable; and saidfluid providing step provides said fluid to said container at a pressuresufficient to expand said container.
 77. A method as claimed in claim75, wherein: said container comprises a permeable membrane; and saidproviding step provides said fluid into said container such that atleast some of said fluid contained in said container exits saidcontainer through said permeable membrane.
 78. A method as claimed inclaim 75, wherein: said container comprises a wall having at least oneopening therein; and said providing step provides said fluid into saidcontainer such that at least some of said fluid contained in saidcontainer exits said container through said at least one opening.
 79. Amethod as claimed in claim 75, wherein: said fluid includes a celltreating material; and said providing step includes the step releasingfrom said container at least a portion of said fluid containing saidcell treating material to enable said cell treating material to altersaid physical characteristic of said cells.